In this Blog I try to bring to the attention of Biggleswade residents, what is happening in our town, which otherwise you may not read or hear about. This blog now includes community announcements like those from Ringmaster and Be Scam Aware.
You can leave comments anonymously if you prefer to do so.
You can contact me directly on : mason@shebra.freeserve.co.uk
At the September 2010 Planning meeting it was minuted that the Levitt Partnership fees would be £520 plus VAT, to carry out a survey of the flat roof of the Old Court House, and submit their report to include flat roof specialist recommendations.
At the January 2011 Planning Meeting, the Town Clerk advised members that he had asked Levitt's to obtain costs for the refurbishing the upstairs offices to be carried out at the same time as the roof repairs. A copy of the estimate for all the works was provided to members, although no figures are shown in the minutes. I now understand this was in the order of £40,000.
At the March Council meeting this came up as a "late item" therefore not on the agenda. Apparently the lowest tender was in the order of £70,000 for all the works. Councillor Vickers made the point that there was lots of good office accommodation already in Biggleswade, some of which had been empty for some considerable time.
After some discussion about the possibilities of converting the space for residential use, it was agreed that just the essential roof works go ahead.
I understand that there has been some concern about the future of the post office at the above site as the current franchise contract comes to an end on the 28th March 2011.
I am told a new franchisee has been found and subject to all contracts being in place, the Post Office will continue trading from the same premises. The premises are leased from Aldi Stores and I am given to understand the lease will pass to the new local franchisees.
The answer is on Page 8 of the consultation document:
3.
In this Code:
“the Act” means the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;
“local authority’ means:
• a county council;
• a district council;
• a parish council;
• a parish meeting of a parish which does not have a separate parish council;
• etc
A civil (as opposed to an ecclesiastical) parish can alternatively be known as a town, village, neighbourhood or community by resolution of its parish council - so it seems that Biggleswade is actually a Parish Council styled as a Town Council.
So I am at a loss as to why Biggleswade Town Council should need to query their status with the Department for Communities and Local Government.
If I were the Town Clerk I would not send this letter at the risk of being made to feel foolish by DCLG's reply:
'You come under the 'Parishes' category - it does apply to you. We're surprised that you even need to ask as you should really know this.'
Also - if, as you say, the code of recommended practice is a repetition of [Biggleswade] Town Councils own working practices - can you please start abiding by it and publish the information it says you should be publishing.
These are the dates, approved at the Council Meeting on 22nd March 2011, for the remainder of 2011/2012.
10th May 2011 - Annual Statutory Meeting
24th May 2011 - Town Annual Meeting
14th June 2011 - Planning
28th June 2011 - Council
12th July 2011 - Planning
26th July 2011 - Council
9th August 2011 - Planning
23rd August 2011 - Council
13th September 2011 - Planning
27th September 2011 - Council
11th October 2011 - Planning
26th October 2011 - Council
8th November 2011 - Planning followed by Finance & General Purposes
22nd November 2011 - Council
13th December 2011 - Planning
10th January 2012 - Planning
24th January 2012 - Precept followed by Council
14th February 2012 - Planning
28th February 2012 - Council
13th March 2012 - Planning
27th March 2012 - Council
10th April 2012 - Planning
24th April 2012 - Council
All of the meetings commence at 7.00pm and will be held at the Old Court House, Saffron Road, Biggleswade. The meetings are on a Tuesday except 26th October 2011, which is on a Wednesday.
The Consultation ended on 17th March 2011 and amongst others applies to District and Parish Councils. That is, as far as we are concerned, Central Bedfordshire and Biggleswade Town Council.
At the Biggleswade Town Council Planning meeting of the 8th March 2011, this document was discussed under items for consideration. At the meeting it was resolved:
"that a letter be written to ask if this code of practice applies to Town Councils, as they are not mentioned in the list of definitions of "local authority", and also to say that the code of recommended practice is a repetition of Town Councils own working practices."
The agendas and minutes always seem to include a heading Exempt Items. Under this it is stated:
The following resolution will be moved that it is advisable in the public interest that the public and press are excluded whilst the following exempt item + issue(s) is discussed.
Two points.
1. This is a minor one, but from a presentation and understanding point of view I would have thought it should be:
The following resolution will be moved:
That it is advisable in the public interest that the public and press are excluded whilst the following exempt item + issue(s) is discussed
2. It says the following item + issue (s), but I have never seen any shown. Should this statement always be included when there are no exempt items.
It goes on to say:
Section 1002(1) of the LGA (Access to Information) (variation) order 2006. Section 12a part 1 paragraph3.
1. I cannot find any reference to Section 1002(1) of the above quoted variation order.
3. If you believe that Schedule 12a is your justification for exempt items then the correct quote should be :
Section 100I *(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (variation) order 2006, Part 1, Paragraph 3.
*Note - that's a upper case i that precedes the asterisk.
If you are claiming exemption by quoting this you need to get it right, otherwise you cannot claim it.
If you are to discuss exempt items you should list them, and provide a brief non confidential summary after discussions have taken place, as other councils do. If at any meeting you are not going to claim exempt items, the agenda / minutes should reflect that there are none and the item should be omitted.
Other Councils use:
Under Section 1 of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 and in view of the confidential nature of business about to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw
Not surprisingly I did not get the information I requested within the 20 working days, which was by Tuesday 15th March 2011.
On the morning of Friday 18th March I sent Biggleswade Town Council an email.
By my calculation you are now well past the twentieth working day by which you should provided me with the information requested.
I will leave it until the end of today before I pursue any other action.
I received an email timed at 4.10pm to say the documents would be available for collection on Monday 21st March.
One document is the Minutes of the Property Committee held 23rd November 1999.
Present: Councillor Briars, Town Mayor (in the chair) Councillors Albone, Mrs Armstrong, Biernis, Brunt, Malyon, Rook, Skinner and the Town Clerk.
Also present were Councillors Vickers and Costley.
Apologies were received from Councillor Mrs Forbes.
There is a blank gap after "The following resolution was moved:"
The document then goes on to say:
The Clerk informed members that exchange on the Avenue Centre had been completed on 17th November 1999 for the agreed price.
General discussion took place on the possibility of a replacement community building and need to secure the monies received from the sale of the Avenue Centre.
Recommended that:
a) this council contact the District Valuer and ask him to re-open negotiations on the purchase of Kingdom Hall;
b) the monies received from the sale of the Avenue Centre be "ring fenced" for the provision of a new community building.
The other document I asked for, would have been between November 1999 and 31st March 2003, when £200,000 was designated in reserves for new office provision (the sale price of the Avenue Centre). There is no other £200,000 shown in the earmarked reserves. I have been provided with an extract of an agenda and minutes from April 2006 which shows the source of funds for the acquisition and refurbishment of the Magistrates' Court building. There are no amounts shown but the funding in priority order was :
1. Proceeds of Chestnut Avenue (this was sold for £171,000 in June 2006)
2. PWLB Loan
3. Proceeds Cemetery Lodge
4. Earmarked Reserve.
I will now have to go back again and ask the same question:
Can you provide me with a copy of the minutes which show the minuted decision (between November 1999 and 31st March 2003) which changed the designation of the £200,000 in reserves to New Office Provision?
_______
________________
_________________________________
I have recently discovered that an amount of £200,000 is shown in the BTC accounts in the reserves for year ended 31st March 2003, and is shown as EMR (Ear Marked Reserve?) – New Office Provision.
On Tuesday 15th February 2011, I sent an email to the BiggleswadeTown Clerk asking:
1.Can you provide me with a copy of the minutes around the time of the sale in November 1999 that mentions anything about the sale and the purpose of the proceeds?
2.Can you provide me with a copy of the minutes which show the minuted decision (between November 1999 and 31st March 2003) which changed the designation of the £200,000 in reserves to New Office Provision?
If you consider this task too onerous, I am quite prepared to search for this information myself, if you would give me access to your archived minutes.
The 20 working days, by which time the information should be provided, will expire on Tuesday 15th March 2011.
_______________________________
In November 1999 the site and building, was sold by Biggleswade Town Council to Acorn Homes, for the sum of £200,000.
I am given to believe that when BTC sold The Avenue Club, an undertaking was given, particularly to organisations using the Club premises, that the sale money would be ring fenced and be held towards meeting the cost of a town community centre. At The Town Assembly Meeting of 23rd May 2006, when Vic Brunt asked what had happened to the monies from the sale he was told by Councillor Vickers that it was no longer ring fenced !
you will have noticed that there are only three meetings that have not yet taken place:
22nd March 2011 - Council
12th April 2011 - Planning
26th April 2011 - Council
On asking when other meetings were to be held for the remainder of 2011 and into 2012, I have been told:
This information cannot be provided as the Council have yet to approve dates for the remainder of meetings for 2011/2012, these dates when approved will be published on the Town Council web site.
Further to my post of 6th March 2011. I have now received a reply from Biggleswade Town Council, within the twenty working days!!
Apparently despite saying in the accounts, "car park lease", it actually means leases.
Dan Albone and Rose Lane car parks. I am told the leases expire in 2014. I have not been provided with an actual date. I am also told that there is a lease break on the Rose Lane car park in 2012. Again I have not been provided with an actual date. I have now asked for these dates.
I have not been provided with a breakdown of the costs of the leases between the two car parks,which is shown in the accounts for 31st March 2010 as:
An agreed budget of £31,650 a revised budget of £31,650 a year to date of £33,773 and a projected actual of £32,650.
Under the Planning Permission MB/98/01344 granted on 17th July 2003, one of the conditions was:
Condition 8 - Goods deliveries to the site shall be restricted to between the hours of 7am and 9pm Monday to Saturdays and 9am to 6pm on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
A breach of conditions notice (ENC/06/0274) was issued in May 2007. Link to notice
In September 2007 planning application (MB/07/01408) for a change to Condition 8 was refused. Decision notice
On 15th February 2011 another Breach of Condition notice (CB/ENC/11/0001) has been issued. Link to notice.
If you have problems with the above links, go to :
The Community Engagement Officer says "We are evaluating successes and learning points from all seven Let's Talk meetings in order to firm up future arrangements." These will be confirmed shortly.
Information and photographs provide by Mike Strange.
I have reported this mindless vandalism to the number shown on the board this afternoon. How useless is that for getting the mindless vandalism of throwing life saving equipment into the river rectified when it goes to the an office-hours only Town Council telephone!
I just hope nobody falls in and needs the lifebelt over the weekend, perhaps it will be the idiot who threw the lifebelt in; how ironic would that be!
In September 2007 I made the following report, and forgot all about it, even though I go past it all the time. The sign at the junction of Holme Court Avenue / London Road was taken down.
There are a two white Developers Signs with Croudace on them :
on a lamp post junction of Holme Court Avenue and London Road, Biggleswade as you come from the A1
on the lampost (CCTV camera attached to it) at the junction of London Road / Dells Lane / Back Street, Biggleswade as you come down London Road into town.
London Road / Dells Lane / Back Street - London Road: Report 50608
22.01.2011 - email to Highways
Three years on, the sign is still in place. Could you tell me when it will be removed please ??
24.01.2011 - standard emailresponse.
I have noted your chase to the report & passed to the Highways Area Technician.
You can now follow the progress of your report online. Please have your report number and postcode at hand, and visit our website by clicking the following link: http://highwayfaults.bedfordshire.gov.uk/.
Please note our technicians have 5 working days to inspect and update the report.
26.01.2011 - email to Highways.
I cannot track this report using fault No 50608 and my postcode of SG18 8PB.
Can you advise me how I can access this please??
27.01.2011 - email from Highways
I noted your chase to the report on 24/01/11. Please allow the Highways Area Technician 5 working days to update the report with his comments.
27.01.2011 - email to Highways
You have missed the point.
If I enter my postcode and fault number (which appears to be the one from three years ago), I get this:
Postcode:
* Please enter your postcode.
Reference number:
* Please enter your reference number.
No fault record found matching criteria. More recent reports can be accessed albeit there is no update as yet 27.01.2011 - email from Highways
You are unable to updates owing to the age of the report.
The online system was set up after this report was logged & reports prior to the set up date cannot be accessed.
For further updates on this report you will need to contact the Highways Helpdesk.
25.02.2011 - email to Highways
Since its nearly 5 weeks since I reported it this year and over 3 years since I first reported it and the sign is still there, can you update me when it will be removed.
28.02.2011 - email from Highways
I have checked the report & it was updated on 28/01/11 by the Highways Area Technician as follows:
"There is a scheme in place to change / upgrade this junction which involves moving or replacing this cctv pole. If this scheme goes ahead then this sign will be removed at the same time. If not, then it will have to wait until we have a mobile elevated work platform in the area."
05.03.2011 - email to Highways
The London Road / Baulk project was suspended at the Traffic Management meeting of 1st March 2011. It will be some considerable time before another scheme, is formulated and has gained acceptance.
Are ladders not used anymore, the sign is not particularly high?
08.03.2011 - email from Highways
I have noted your comments to the report and passed to the Highways Technician for his attention.
Regarding access; owing to Health & Safety policy we no longer use ladders.
I wrote on 7th March 2011, to Sam Vernon, Biggleswade Chronicle concerning the article he wrote in the Chronicle last week.
_____________________________________
Sam Vernon
Biggleswade Chronicle
Kitelands Lights
I am very disappointed in the article you wrote in the Chronicle last week.
It became obvious during both conversations I had with you, that you did not know the facts, and seemed to be reluctant to read the blog to obtain them. I kept referring you to it and as you know I eventually sent you a copy of it, in the hope you would read it. I am not sure that you did.
You have trivialised the events that stretched over a 7 month period.You have called the planning conditions “guidelines” something I corrected you on in our last conversation.In December 2010 after Biggleswade Town Council had been constantly in breach of those conditions, Central Bedfordshire Council threatened them with a planning enforcement order. You have made no mention of this.
You have made it appear that the lights went wrong they had a problem fixing them and so they switched them off. If you had read the blog, which details all of the events, you know that this is far from the truth.
I will be writing a letter to the Chronicle and try to address the misrepresentations in your "story".
_____________________________________
email 9th March 2011 to:
Jim Stewart
Editor
Bedfordshire Times & Citizen
Biggleswade Chronicle
I trust you have seen my email to Sam Vernon and his reply.
I have attached a letter I would like published in your letters column.
I have sent it via yourself, on this occasion, as I feel you should be aware of its content, and also because I would like it published in its entirety, if at all possible. I accept your right to edit etc but if this has to be done, can in it be done so that the real story is still told.
I do not accept Sam's argument that he had to tell the story in simplest layman's terms possible ( I am not sure what he means by that), and with a limited amount of space available.
My attached letter is shorter than the article, but tells it as it is.
____________________________________
My letter to Chronicle - red text was omitted from publication on Friday 11th March 2011
I am taking the unusual step of writing to try and correct the misrepresentations in the “story” (Chronicle 4 March – Can’t operator see the light?)
I spoke to the Chronicle reporter twice, but he did not seem to understand that Central Bedfordshire Planning Enforcement had threatened the Biggleswade Town Council with an enforcement notice, because they had breached the planning conditions, not “guidelines” as mentioned in the story. I suggested he read my blog and I sent him a copy.
In May 2010 the Town Clerk confirmed he knew that they were in breach of the conditions, which was that the lights must not be on after 8pm, and must not come on again until after 7 am. The lights stayed on all night until the middle of July and then were switched off by the Council.
At the end of the September the lights were switched on again. They were still on outside of the permitted times. In October the Town Clerk said he was not aware the times had changed !! The lights were switched off again towards the end of October 2010.
Middle of November the lights were switched on again. They were still on outside of the permitted times. On the 6th December Planning Enforcement gave the Town Council seven days to comply otherwise they would serve them with a Breach of Conditions notice. The lights were switched off on 10th December and have been off ever since.
I suspected the Town Clerk has been waiting for the lighter evenings to come and his comment in the Chronicle last week confirms this !
______________________________
If you want to remind yourself of the facts go to:
If you think you'd make a good local Councillor, it is not too late. The deadline to register is noon on the 4 April 2011. You have to be 18 or over to be eligible..
You can obtain further information on the Be a Councillor campaign via their website: www.beacouncillor.org.uk/east.
If you are interested, contact the Central Bedfordshire Electoral Services Team on 0300 300 8008.
Its that time again when our Mayor has her chance to write her piece in the Chronicle, which she did on March 4th 2011.
This time she included comments on the Freedom of Information Act.
" I believe that as individuals we do have a right to know just what information is stored about us all"
I think in the context of Biggleswade Town Council, she must be thinking of another Act. The FOI Act 2000 says :
An Act to make provision for the disclosure of information held by public authorities or by persons providing services for them.
I would hope that BTC are not gathering and holding information on its Council Tax payers!
She goes onto to say :
"If though, anyone needs to access specific information from the town council's activities, then I would ask that they are very specific about their concern rather than submitting a general enquiry."
There is a problem with that. Most of the time we do not know what the Council are doing as the minutes of meetings are generally meaningless and uninformative (as the Town Clerk has admitted) and none of the Councillors hold surgeries. I am always concerned about what they are doing. If they released more information then perhaps they would not have so many requests.
I submitted a request, naming over 20 documents, I had obtained for previous years, and wanted the latest copies, only to be told :
" could you be more specific with regard to the precise document you require"
Sometime ago I asked for a copy of their works programme, only to be told it did not exist, but later found out it was called a programme of works.
Sometimes you know what information you want but you are not sure in which documents it is contained. Under the FOI Act, Part I, S16, BTC have a "Duty to provide advice and assistance" .
Another comment:
"....cuts down on the costs of processing a query"
It took 6 months and 24 emails to obtain a copy of BTC accounts for year ended 31.03.10. During that time I paid for a summary, which was not the document I asked for. A breakdown in the right format, which again I paid for but it was for the year before! I was initially told I had missed the opportunity to look at the documents, and the others were with the auditors.
Another good delaying tactic and time waster, hoping you give up, is to claim a "qualified exemption". I am not sure BTC know what that is because when I asked which of the 23 exemptions were being claimed all I got was silence.
Two months later and numerous emails and a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office finally got me the information!!
Another good one is to wait until the 20 working days are nearly up and then ask a question and later claim the request has been satisfied within the timescale!!
Another one "I was on official annual leave" so could not respond in the timescale!!
I truly believe that BTC have a policy of trying not to provide information , if they can help it, that could put you and I in a position to ask questions they do not want asked. Or perhaps it's just me! I have some outstanding specific FOI requests.
I think you may be expecting too much - here's a list of Town and Parish Councils in Bedfordshire that have achieved 'Quality Council' status as listed on the NALC website:
Note that in the policy requirements document that:
"The materials and colours used should not be too bright, garish or overly reflective."
That wipes out all the aluminium seating around the Surfin Cafe, Cruzers and Cafe Mocha at a stroke then.
Is the passage alongside the New Inn or through Abbots Walk part of this policy? The policy states:
"The term 'street' includes 'any road, footway, beach or other area to which the public have access without payment'. Any person street trading without a valid Consent commits a criminal offence."
So it would seem so.
re consultation - a licence may be refused if:
"- adverse comments have been received as part of the consultation process;" (who from? officers or the public?)
"- a relevant objection has been received to the granting of the licence." (So a single objection may 'kill' an application!)
re fees:
"up to 2 sets of tables and chairs (maximum 4 chairs per table) - Free Of Charge
• over 2 and up to 10 sets of tables and chairs - £500
• over 10 sets of tables and chairs - £1000"
These are annual charges - just think how many cups of coffee to you need to sell just to cover the charges. Who else sees prices going up to cover this...?
But there's more:
"A supplementary charge to cover the reasonable costs of the consultation process that has to be undertaken in respect of a new application.
• £150 per application (tables and chairs)"
No response has been received from Basil Jackson, Assistant Director for Highways, to the email dated 25th February 2011, shown below. These two emails have been received today 7th March 2011, by Mike Strange, Member - Biggleswade Town Plan Steering Group.
___________________________________
Subject: Your ePetition "Road works at The Baulk/London Road & Safer Routes to School" has now finished
Date sent: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 14:54:01 +0000
Priority: normal
Your ePetition "Road works at The Baulk/London Road & Safer Routes to School" has now finished.
The ePetition 'Road works at The Baulk/London Road & Safer Routes to School' has now received 122 responses as follows:
Agree: 122 responses
The petition closed on 24th January 2011.
_____________________________
Subject: Your ePetition: Road works at The Baulk/London Road & Safer Routes to School
Date sent: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 14:57:49 +0000
Priority: normal
With reference to your ePetition request:
Good Afternoon Mr Strange,
Please note that at the Traffic Management meeting held on Tuesday 1 March 2011 the Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Healthier Lifestyles agreed with the Officers recommendation of the suspension of the current proposals and that further scheme options be prepared in consultation with stakeholders in 2011/12 be approved.
Regards
Martha Clampitt
Committee Services Officer
____________________________________
email sent 25th February 2011
Dear Mr Jackson,
I have taken the time to read your report that is being put to the Traffic Management Committee of 1st March 2011; that is:
Agenda Item 4, Page 29
Subject: London Road and The Baulk Biggleswade
Report of: Basil Jackson
Summary: The purpose of this report is to present to the portfolio holder for Safer Communities and Healthier Lifestyles a report on a recent consultation on a safer routes to school project in Biggleswade, to set out the wider context and seek approval for a way forward.
I was the instigator of the ePetition which ran from 12/12/2010 to 24/01/2011. 122 people signed this ePetition hence I am concerned that your report only says 76 (page 33 of the agenda) which was clearly prior to its closure and at that time was below the trigger figure of 100. Therefore, it is inappropriate to give this inaccurate information to the Committee and I expect to read in the subsequent minutes that you have updated the Committee as to the true number.
Furthermore, I understand that there was also a paper petition that had many more signatures (something of the order of 300 comes to mind) yet there is no mention of this; perhaps you could explain this to me?
If you wanted to see a big difference made for the residents of Biggleswade, and further afield, you would have ensured that the mini-roundabout at the junction of Sun Street and Shortmead Street would have been in place by now. Please update me on this. You should know that this was the highest priority from the residents as recorded in the Biggleswade Town Plan which has been adopted by Biggleswade Town Council. Perhaps you have not taken the time to read that; you will find it on page 12 of
20. Do you think that any of the following junctions, identified in the initial consultation, need improving?
Response Response
Percent Count
Sun St /Shortmead St 66.6% 813
London Rd /Dells Lane /The Baulk /Back St 59.4% 725
London Rd /Eagle Farm Rd /Drove Rd 32.2% 393
London Rd /Kitelands Rd 4.3% 52
London Rd /Chambers Way 13.4% 163
High St /Rose Lane 27.7% 338
(no response) 12.4% 151
Other (please specify) 47
Summary of Text Responses:
• Some of these could happen now. There was a recent variation on the East Biggleswade Schedule 106 Agreement that allows for the Council to claim back from developers the cost of work carried out in advance of the agreed trigger points. We need the Sun Street/Shortmead Street roundabout now.
• Station Road/Saffron Road/Palace Street
• Where Station Road meets Saffron Road outside the station. It's a mess
• Back Street onto Station Road junction is dangerous.
• A1 south access from Biggleswade.
• From the Dunton roundabout to the industrial estate/Homebase roundabout. Prevent traffic turning right to access the rear of Matalan, instead use the roundabout industrial estate/Homebase to loop round and return to make a left turn in. This will avoid the traffic delays and congestion and will make the access safer. Similarly make traffic exiting only turn left and use the Dunton roundabout to loop back.
• Dells Lane/Windermere Drive
• The junction of St John's Street and Sun Street.
• Rear exit from Asda into Rose Lane, road markings non compliant this should be a stop line.
• London road/ Elm Road – mini-roundabouts would be helpful
• Mead End/Dells Lane
I think you can see where your priorities should lie.
Thank you for your attention and I look forward to receiving a positive response from you; this will be followed with great interest.
